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Home Diy :: Mini Succulent Clay Planters

By now, you all know Cassandra's wedding is happening this week! I'm jumping into the blog rotation with a couple fun posts because there is NO way she's allowed to take her laptop along to the island - or the honeymoon.

In the spirit of all things wedding, I thought it would be fun to share a DIY that would be perfect for easy, handmade wedding favors: mini clay succulent planters. Aside from wedding favors or gifts, these are also really fun to make for yourself! Think of it as an inexpensive, easy DIY that is basically to playdough for adults. Yeah - you're going to want to try this...

I made 5 planters and did the entire project (plants included) for under $20. This is definitely the perfect DIY for summertime. Here's what you need to to get started:

The process is actually really easy! Start by working the modeling clay so it's malleable and easy to use.

Once you have the clay nice and workable, you can basically create any type of planter you'd like. There are multiple ways to get the same result. The first one I tried, I molded the clay around the cylinder cup, creating a form. It's a little easier than starting from scratch. I also tried rolling out a flat piece of clay and connecting it to make the shape. It's totally up to you! There is no wrong way to make these.

You don't have to worry about making the planter walls too thick or thin because it'll harden either way. I love that this clay requires zero baking! You pretty much can't screw this project up.

From a design perspective, this is where you can have some fun! I knew I wanted to try a couple different styles: one with a pedestal base, one with feet, and a couple minimal options.

I did find that the clay was easiest to work with when it was pretty wet. I added lots of water during the smoothing process and found that to work really well.

You can also get creative with your tools. I used the end of a paint brush to stamp a circular pattern onto one planter. I also loved cutting strips of clay and wrapping them around some of the minimal options to add depth.

Let yourself go back to the days of high school art class. Don't worry about striving for perfection or making these exact, just have fun with it! I'm actually more attracted to the handmade, organic look that requires imperfection.

Once you're happy with the planters, allow them to dry in a cool, shaded environment for at least 48 hours. You'll notice the gray clay will harden and turn white. Rotating them every so often helps to accelerate the drying time. Once mine were totally solid, I opted to 'glaze' them with spray enamel. A couple coats later, they looked exactly like I had planned!

You could also paint these, rather than leaving them natural and adding glaze. There are so many options and possibilities! Next time around, I might dip a few in paint or try a glossy black lacquer.

Which one is your favorite? I'm leaning towards the one with the chunky little feet.

I'd also like to try experimenting with different patterns! The circles were really easy and I could totally see this planter living in a kids room or nursery.

Have you guys ever used air hardening clay for other projects? If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!